Long Walks and Blessed Days!

Our days often include long walks. Yesterday were going to start the day by walking just over two miles to our "Real faith" study, but Stanley Hotey stopped by and gave us a ride. After the study, we walked to the clock tower area, had a burger at Steers, and then walked to the "central market", a very crowded market area where one can find almost anything. We found just what Pat had been looking for, a large rectangular straw mat to be used, on the wall, as a background for a large "batik" we have had for a week or so. We then walked back through town, shopping for some basic tools and groceries (because of weight restrictions on the airplane, we had not brought any tools over, not even a pocket knife, big mistake) and headed back to our home in Kijenge. We were two tired old folks by the time we got back home. We probably looked like a couple of muzunga "Okies" headed home after the depression, like my grandad did, carrying all their "stuff". After we got home and had a bite to eat, we walked with Sara, our wonderful housekeeper, to the home of one of our neighbors (Gloria), a Maasai, whose daughter died suddenly Sunday morning, after complaining about a headache on Saturday night (she was in her mid 40's). It seems like the Maasai have become a part of our lives ever since we got here. We took some sugar, rice and bread to the family, and expressed our love and concern to them (Sara interpreted). They, graciously, invited us into their home and gave us a soft drink. Sara is helping us to understand the customs to abide by in events such as these.

By the end of the day, God had taken us on a real adventure, which had included 5-6 miles on foot and an opportunity for Pat to witness to a young man while I was in a hardware store trying to buy cheap tools. Bwana Asifiwe (praise the Lord) for another beautiful day He made for us in Tanzania.